Sports presenter Clare Balding has been named the most “fascinating” person in
Britain, beating the Queen, Prince Harry and the Middleton sisters.

Clare Balding, who now presents a Saturday night show following her on-screen success at the London 2012 Olympics, was named the most fascinating person in the public eye, according to upmarket society magazine Tatler.

The publication, which measured the individuals most searched-for on its online “Tatler List” of notable figures, found Balding had moved ahead of all members of the British Royal family.

She also beat Mayor of London Boris Johnson in 20th place, actress Emma Watson in 28th and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s dog Lupo in 50th.

Her partner, former BBC Radio 4 newsreader Alice Arnold, came in 14th place.

The full list finds “party planner” Pippa Middleton in second position, followed by “Russian gazillionaire” and Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich.

The Queen, described by the magazine as “everyone’s favourite monarch” and a “brilliant impersonator”, comes in fourth.

Actor Benedict Cumberbatch features in fifth place, followed by Prince Harry and private members’ club owner and “best-connected man in London” Robin Burley.

The Duchess of Cambridge proved marginally popular than her husband, reaching seventh place compared with her husband’s 16th.

Likewise, Princess Eugenie was found more fascinating than her sister, in ninth position rather than Princess Beatrice’s 15th. The Duke of Edinburgh came in at 36th.

The list, compiled according to website hits and published in the March issue on Friday, is said to be a who’s who of famous faces, with Tatler instructing its readers: “Study very closely indeed. You need to know who they are.”